Crimean head says no threats to republic from Ukraine

Date of publication: 13 12 2016, 16:30

There are no threats to Crimea from Ukraine, as all security measures are being taken to the full extent, the head of the Crimean Republic Sergey Aksyonov has told the media following a question from TASS.

“There are the FSB, the Interior Ministry and the Defense Ministry, which have been taking all the measures they should. Is there any need for tighter precautions? All services are in place. There are no threats to the republic. As for nasty things they may try to do stealthily, we should be always on guard for them. It’s customary for them (the Ukrainian authorities),” Aksyonov said. “They wish to play some dirty tricks on us all the time.”

“The Ukrainian people, I’m sure, do not share such a sentiment. Many of those who come here can see the changes that have taken place in Crimea over the past 2.5 years in contrast to the situation in the Kherson Region. Everybody understands that Russia guarantees the rights and protection of its citizens. Many envy us, believe me. If an opinion poll were held in Ukraine’s regions today to ask people for their opinion of the current state of affairs, the results would not be optimistic ones for the Ukrainian authorities.”

At a joint meeting of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee and the Federal Operative Center security service FSB director Aleksandr Bortnikov said that the Ukrainian authorities and radical organizations had started active preparations for going ahead with their terrorist designs in Crimea.